The EU has sounded the alarm over a “very serious crisis” as aviation fuel stocks begin to run low amid the ongoing conflict in Iran, with holidaymakers potentially facing disruption to their summer travel plans.

“Unfortunately, it’s very likely that many people’s holidays will be affected, either by flight cancellations or very, very expensive tickets,” Dan Jorgensen, the EU energy commissioner, told Sky News. “Even if we do everything we can do, if the jet fuel is not there, then it’s not there.”

Jorgensen added: “[Currently] it is primarily a crisis of prices and not yet a crisis of supply, but unfortunately we cannot be sure to prevent a crisis of supply, especially on jet fuel in the future, if the crisis continues.”

The International Energy Agency has warned that significant supply disruptions could materialise within the next five to six weeks.

Airlines are already taking steps to reduce demand: the Lufthansa Group, one of Europe’s biggest airline operators, has announced the cancellation of 20,000 flights over the coming months. Meanwhile, rival carriers are pushing up ticket prices on long-haul routes to counteract soaring fuel costs.

“If we had peace tomorrow and the Strait of Hormuz opens, I think we will manage without that happening, but I have to say that even in the best-case scenario, the price crisis will still last for quite some time,” Jorgensen warned. “Gas infrastructure has been ruined to a degree that will take years to rebuild and this means for months and maybe years yet we will see much higher prices than we had before this crisis started.”

The head of Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority told Sky News that people should consider spending their summer holidays domestically.

“In the past petrol prices have reached and exceeded more than $100 without any significant side effects on air travel but this time, the psychological effect is having a destructive effect on passengers,” Pierluigi di Palma warned. “It is best to recommend holidays nearby, rediscovering beautiful places in our country. “For those who still want to risk taking a long trip, it’s a good idea to consider special insurance that can provide reassurance regarding a guaranteed refund in the event of a delayed or cancelled flight.”

The EU has announced a series of measures designed to mitigate the impact of the energy crisis, including proposals to speed up the deployment of renewable energy sources and incentives for households to install clean energy solutions such as heat pumps and solar panels. The bloc is also urging member states to reduce tax on electricity, in an effort to encourage more motorists to transition to electric vehicles.

A group representing British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, TUI, UPS and Virgin Atlantic has delivered a stark warning to ministers regarding summer holidays. According to ITV News, Airlines UK has told passengers, ‘you can forget your holidays’ according to Good Morning Host Susanna Reid.

The letter, addressed to ministers and the Civil Aviation Authority, urges the government and officials to revise regulations to reduce passenger duty, permit additional night flights, and abolish compensation for cancelled or delayed flights.

Presenter Susanna said: “You can forget about your summer holidays. That is the stark warning issued to some air passengers hoping to fly abroad this year. With the war in Iran doubling the price of jet fuel, airlines say they face having to increase fairs or cut flights altogether.”

Co-host Ed Balls added: “UK operators are now calling on the government to bring in emergency measures. In a confidential letter seen by ITV News, they’re asking for help to protect fuel supplies, reduce taxes on tickets, and waive strict rules. on compensating passengers.” ITV reported that airlines are pressing the government to intervene to safeguard business travel, holiday flights and freight operations from the economic consequences of the conflict in the Middle East. A confidential briefing document submitted to ministers and the aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, obtained by ITV News, cautions that should the disruption “continues or worsens,” airlines will be forced to cut flights and push up fares.

The document, from Airlines UK, which represents British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, TUI, UPS and Virgin Atlantic, cautions that jet fuel costs have doubled, with fuel representing approximately a third of airline operating costs.

Correspondent Nick Dixon said: “Airlines are now at the stage where they are monitoring their reserves of jet fuel very carefully, very closely. There’s no indication just yet of any immediate cancelled flights or fuel shortages, but the airlines clearly need a backup plan in the longer term. And they are pushing for that. Now, some of the airlines have already taken steps. Luftanza, the European airline, has cancelled thousands of its short-haul flights in an effort to conserve jet fuel. EasyJet, Virgin Airlines, as well as others, have expressed a lot of concern about the coming weeks.

Virgin Atlantic has cancelled one of its long-haul routes. EasyJet has said, really, beyond the next few weeks into mid-May, they’re not entirely clear on what they will do for jet. Let’s just take a look at what the airlines are asking from the government in this letter that you mentioned.”

In terms of the changes the airlines want, he said: “So firstly, they want to relieve or reduce air passenger duty to help bring down the cost of travel generally and holidays during this period. Allow for nighttime flights to keep things moving if the schedules are disrupted, and also to scrap compensation for cancelled or delayed flights caused by fuel shortages. All of that, of course, would have a huge impact. on passengers.”

“What most passengers want to know is, will my holiday flight be affected? It may well be that if the airlines win concessions from the government, we start to see some tactical flight cancellations of what would otherwise be loss-making departures. Well, the Department for Transport has said that it’s continuing to work with fuel suppliers, with airlines, and international counterparts on our contingency emergency planning to ensure that people keep moving and businesses are supported while the conflict is ongoing. But it’s all quite vague really at the moment and very concerning for passenger passengers who have either spent hundreds if not thousands on flights or are looking to plan uh trips throughout the summer.”

As airlines continue to grapple with fuel supply difficulties stemming from the Middle East conflict, some flights may be disrupted or ticket prices may rise. Several energy industry leaders have suggested Europe has just six weeks’ supply of jet fuel remaining. Tom Vaughan, a travel insurance expert at Confused.com, has provided guidance for passengers with summer getaways on the horizon, reports the Mirror.

He also cautioned that cancellations and delays could occur and emphasised the need to prepare in advance and understand what to do should a journey be scrapped. “For Brits planning to travel this summer, it’s worth being aware that flight cancellations and delays could happen as airlines respond to operational pressures,” he said.

“Disruptions like this can leave travellers unsure about their rights and what steps to take next if they are affected. The good news is that UK passengers have rights if their flight is cancelled.

“Airlines should offer a refund or an alternative flight, even if your ticket was non-refundable.” Should passengers encounter disruption, Tom has outlined several steps to take.

First he advises travellers to get in touch with their airline at the earliest opportunity to establish their options, including rebooking or obtaining a refund.

He also recommends: “Keep receipts for any essential costs like food, accommodation or transport, as these may be reimbursed”. Tom noted that passengers may still be entitled to assistance (such as meals or a hotel stay) while waiting for a replacement flight. “If you booked a package holiday, check if it’s ATOL protected and contact your travel provider for support”, he added.

The travel insurance specialist went on to advise that those who pay by credit card “may have additional protection if things don’t go to plan”. He also urged travellers to review their travel insurance policy and speak to their insurer to establish what additional costs they could reclaim.

He further stated that it is “always sensible” to take out travel insurance prior to travelling. “Even if you are able to claim directly via the airline, an insurer can guide you on how to make a claim,” he explained.

Tom continued: “With the right policy in place, you may also be able to claim back for other parts of your holiday that were affected as a result. If you’ve recently experienced flight cancellations, our flight compensation guide will help to break down your options.”

Inflation rose further last month as the knock-on effects from the Iran war began to impact the cost of living for UK households. The Office for National Statistics reported an annual rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation of 3.3% for March, increasing from 3% last month.

This pushed inflation to its highest point since December, with rising fuel prices playing a major role. The ONS highlighted that fuel prices were the primary area where the effects of the Iran conflict had already shown up in their figures.

While jet fuel costs have climbed, the ONS noted that air fares are calculated based on previously booked flights, meaning that the March figures were not yet affected by inflation connected to the conflict. This suggests airfare inflation is set to keep rising this year as elevated jet fuel costs are passed on to passengers.

KLM has implemented several changes to its flight timetable for the upcoming month. The airline explains: “This concerns a limited number of flights within Europe that, due to rising kerosene costs, are currently no longer financially viable to operate. There is no kerosene shortage. KLM will operate 80 fewer return flights to and from Schiphol, which is less than 1% of its European flights during that period.

“Passengers affected by these changes will be rebooked onto the next available flight. As these are destinations KLM serves multiple times a day – such as London and Düsseldorf – travellers can usually be accommodated quickly. KLM expects a busy May holiday period and is making sure passengers can travel to their holiday destinations as planned.”

In a fresh statement, Lufthansa said: “The Lufthansa Group has secured (“hedged”) approximately 80 per cent of its kerosene requirements for 2026 and approximately 40 per cent for 2027 based, among other things, on the price of crude oil – both at pre-crisis price levels. With this level of hedging, we are in a better position than most competitors.”

Meanwhile, easyJet confirmed it is currently experiencing no disruption to its flights and has no plans to alter its flight schedule.

A five-month ban on dogs across hundreds of beaches is set to come into effect within days.

Dotted throughout Britain are numerous beaches that serve as idyllic retreats for dogs — drawing our four-legged companions to their sandy, rocky, or shingly shores and glistening waters.

However, not every beach across the UK extends a warm welcome to our canine friends. Indeed, many have a seasonal dog ban firmly in place. According to the Beach Guide, there are 883 dog-friendly beaches in the UK. England has 447, Northern Ireland has 20, Scotland has 173, and Wales has 243.

While the precise total number of beaches in the UK is somewhat difficult to determine — owing to the country’s irregular coastline and uncertainty over whether every inlet and cove should be counted — it is home to approximately 1,500 beaches.

This suggests that roughly 600 beaches have some form of dog ban in place. Research conducted by Direct Line in 2018 revealed that nearly a third (32%) of British beaches has a dog ban in place, either seasonally or throughout the entire year.